Improvement in permutation-locks



' 4 She ets-Sheet 1. A'. DALTON. Permutation-Look.

No. 221,790. Patented Nov.18,1879..

illlll MPETERS. PHOfO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2, M.' A. DALTON.

Permutation-Lock, 4

No. 221,790. Pate-nted Nov. 18, 1879;.

illiwu Mi, v 1

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. APDALTON.

Permutation-Look.

No. 221,790. Patented Nov. 18,1879.

N. PEIERS, PHOTO-LlfHOGRAPH'ER, WASHINGTON. n C,

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M A'. DALTON. Permutation-Lock.

No. 221,790. I

II I 1' Patented Nov. 18,1879. 9. A

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.Unirnn STATES PATENT OFFicn.

MILTON A. DALTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN PERMUTATlON-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,790, dated November18, 1879; application filed May 8, 1879.

,, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON A. DALTON, of Cincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combination-Locks; and Ido hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to. makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andtoletters of reference marked thereon,- which form, a part of .thisspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide a combination-lock embodyingthe principles of the permutation mechanism of the dual timelockdescribed in my application for United States Letters Patent filedNovember 2, 1878.

To this end theinvention consists of the combination of the followingmechanical devices, to wit: the bolt of the look; a driver, whichconsists of a device fixed on the arbor for throwin g and retracting thebolt, and

combined with a reversible transmitter enabling said driver to transmitmotion from either side according as it is turned in one direction orthe other aself-replacin g controller consisting of a device which ismovable stepwise from its normal position to the point where it providesfor the retraction of the bolt, but which escapes intcrmittingly fromits impellin g means; a permuter consisting of a device which requiresto be advanced stepwise in working out the combination, to successivelysupport the controller'after each advance. The construction of thesedevices and their association into a mechanical combination may be verymuch variedwithout departin g from the principle of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented several forms of myinvention, which I will describe separately in order to avoid confusion.The form of my invention first to be described is illustrated on Sheets1 and 2, where l Figure 1 is a rear elevation with the plate of thelock-case removed, showing it in its unlocked condition. Fig. 2 is asimilar elevation, showing the lock, however, in its locked condition,with the controller partially elevated. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan viewof the lock, showing it attached to a safe-door. Fig. 4 is The arbor Bis provided with a suitable handle or with a knob, B, by which it can beconvenientl y turned. Within the lock-case the arbor has fixed upon itthe driver D, which in this instance is a cross-bar, one end. of whichterminates in a hook, whilethe other end is of broad segmentalconfiguration.

The bolt E- has a slotted shank, E, to guide it on a guide-pin fixed tothe bottom of the case, and is operated by the driver through a link, F,which is pivoted with one end to the bolt, and reaches with its otherend to a fixed stump, A, on the bottom of the lock-case.

The link has at its free end a laterally-projecting pin,f,-upon whichthe driverD has to act in projectingor retracting the bolt. When thebolt is projectedthat is, when the lock is locked-then the free end ofthe link rests on the bottom of the lock-case, in front of the stump A,so as to dog the bolt.

by the driver, and the link F has to be first elevated so high that itcan move over upon stump A before its pin f will be in the circuit ofthe driver.

The stress of a spring, f, is constantly exerted upon the linkantagonistically to the lifting of its free end. The elevation of suchfree end of the link can only be effected throughacross the face of thepermuter H, and can be turned on its pivot through acertain range,

Its pin f is then in a position where it cannot be reached but does notbegin to actuate the link F until it has nearly reached the extremelimit of its range of motion from its normal position.

The controller is moved stepwise from its normal position by alifting-pawl, I, which is adapted to alternately engage and disengagethe toothed segment G of said controller.

WVhenever the lifting-pawl I releases it, the controller will, unless itbe supported by the permuter, as hereinafter set forth, replace itselfin its normal position, and in this self-replacement it may be aided bya spring, g.

Pawl I is loosely pivoted on the weighted arm 1 ,011 one end of shaft 1journaled in a bracket, 1 fixed on the lock-case. The other end of shaft1 has a fixed arm, 1", on the hub of which is a toe, 2', adapted toengage the catch "5 of the trigger I, which is loosely pivoted on a studon bracket 1 The trigger is so balanced on its stud thatit constantlytends to throw its catch i toward the hub of arm 1 for engaging the toethereof.

.Pawl I has a weighted arm, 1 whereby it is kept in contact with thefixed stud i 011 bracket 1 The edge of the pawl bearin g against stud iis so formed that in the lowermost position of the pawl the stud '5holds the bit of the pawl clear of the ratchet-teeth of the controller,so that then the controller is free to move; but as long as the pawl iselevated aboveits lowermost position its bit engages, or is in positionto engage, the ratchet-teeth of the controller. In the present instancethe descent of the pawl is limited by the arm I striking the bottom ofthe lock-case, as shown in Fig. 1. It is elevated by depressing arm 1and is held elevated by the locking of said arm by trigger I", whichmustbe tripped before the pawl can again descend.

The trigger l and arm I are operated upon by the driving-pin 7c of thereversible transmitter-K of the driverD. The reversible transmitter hashere the form of a disk central'ly pivoted in a circular recess in thesegmental arm of the driver D. Its driving-pin k projects through aslot, d, in the driver. This slot d is concentric with the axis of thereversible transmitter, but one end of it is farther removed from theaxis of the driver than the other end. When pin is is in the far end ofthe slot 61 it is in position to operate upon trigger I and arm 1Supposing the parts to be in the relative positions shown in Fig. 4, andthat the driver be turned in the direction of the arrow, driving-pin 76will first trip tri trigger I at this point, in order that the arm I mayturn back a little distance from the extreme point to which it isdepressed by the driving-pin k, and thus have its extreme end thrownacross the circuit of said driving-pin. Hence on reversing the motion ofthe driver the driving-pin It will strike the end of arm I and will beturned some distance in its slot in escaping from said arm.

The trigger I terminates in a pivoted tongue, 1', adapted to turn oneway, and provided to allow the driving-pin k to lift and pass it,without having its position changed by such piv oted tongue, when thedriver is turned in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrowin Fig. 4. The throw of pawl I is equal to the distanc between twoadjacent teeth of controller G plus the lost motion between the arm 1"and trigger I.

A constant rotation of driver D in the direction of the arrow shown inFig. at would have no other effect than to alternately elevate thecontroller a distance equal to the length of one of its teeth and itsautomatic return to its normal position.- In order that it may besuccessively elevated higher and higher the permuter His provided,fromthe side of which facing the controller a number of studs, h, project,which can be successively brought under a projecting stud, 9 of thecontroller, to support it in any position to which it may be lifted bypawl I. The permuter is provided with several concentric series ofholes, in which the studs 7L may be inserted, one in each concentricseries of holes. By changing the relative positions of the studs thecombination for opening the lock maybe varied at any time. After eachlift of the controller by the pawl I, the

permuter is to be turned to bring the appropriate stud 71, under thestud 9 to support the controller while pawl I descends preparatory togiving another lift to the controller.

The permuter is mounted to turn freely on arbor B, but a friction-pawl,L, pivoted on the case, bears on its peripheral edge and prevents itfrom turn in g exceptin one direction naniel y, in a direction oppositeto that in which the driver requires to be rotated to operate upon pawlI through the intermediate mechanism described.

The force with which the friction-pawl bears against the permuter can beregulated to some extent by anjusting the weight L on the pawl.

The permuter is driven bythe driving-pin k of the reversible transmitterK acting on a laterally-projectin g stud or drive-pin, h, of saidpermuter. The driving-pin k projects from the reversible transmitter ina direction opposite to the driving-pin k.

The pins k k are so placed with reference to each other that when k isin position to op erate on trigger I and arm 1 k cannottouch thedrive-pin of the permuter, while when k is in position to drive thepermuter, then pin it cannot reach trigger I and arm 1 On turning thedriver D in a direction opposite to that of the arrow shown in Fig. 4arm I will give a partial turn to the reversible transmitter, so thatits drivingpin k will then be in the circuit of the drive-pin h of thepermuter.

The segmental end of the controller has a laterally projecting stud orpin, 9 which swings just clear of the end of the rest M on thelock-case, and can move over upon the said rest when the controller hasbeen lifted to its highest position.

In this instance the controller lifts the link F by means of a lever, N,which is located in a cavity of, and is pivoted on, the bolt E, wit-hits short arm overhanging the controller, so as to be struck therebyduring the last lift, and its long arm reaching under the link F.

Fig. 2 shows the condition of things when the lock is locked and thecontroller has been elevated from its normal position a distance equalto the length of two of its teeth in the act of unlocking.

The [next step required is to turn the permuter to set one of its studsh under the stud g of the controller. That being done, the movement ofdriver D is reversed, whereby the pawl 1 will first be allowed todescend, and will then again be elevated, giving another lift to thecontroller. Thus the driver is alternately turned in opposite directionsto successively lift the controller and turn the permuter to set one ofits studs under the stud g of the controller. 7

The last lift of the controller is accomplished by the bit of the pawl Iacting on the lower end of the segment G, so that the controller may nowmove endwise over the bit of the pawl and by its pin 9 find support onrest M. During this last lift link F will be elevated, so that its freeend may ride over the stump A, while its pin f is brought within thecircuit of the driver, and pin g assumes a position just above the levelof the rest M. On again reversing the driver, its hook end, taking holdof piuf of link F, will retract the bolt, the stud g meanwhile movingover upon rest M to support the controller To lock the lock, the motionof the driver is again reversed, causing it-s segmental end to project'the bolt by pushing against pin fof link F.

This will carry the pin g3 back to a point over that stud of thepermuter which was last set for the support of the controller. Thisprojection of the bolt is, accompanied by an elevation of the pawl I,which now again stands under the lower end of the segment G of thecontroller. To complete the lock-up, it is necessary to release thecontroller, first from the pawl and then from the supporting-stud of thepermuter, so that the controller may return to its normal position andallow the link F to fall. This is done by a partial reversal of thedriver D after it has shot the bolt, and then turning it back again.

' It should be observed that in shooting the 'bolt by the segmental armof the driver the driving-pin k of the reversible transmitter willdepress arm 1?, so as to lift the pawl I, but that .the pin It will notpass said arm 1", but will remain between the arm and the trigger 1 sothat in reversing the driver the drivingpin k will lift the pivotedtongue 11 of the tri ger without having its position changed thereby.The driver is turned just far enough to the link F, and nothing remainsto be done but to reverse the motion of the driver, in order to turn thepermuter to remove its outermost stud h from under'the pin 9 of thecontroller, which then at once descends to its normal position.

It will be observed that in the lock so far described a definite mode ofprocedure has to be followed, both in unlocking and in locking thelock-in other words, that a given combination has to be worked out ineither case. These combinations can be worked out by the person orpersons in possession of the knowledge of them by means of the usualdial-plate O, secured to the arbor B on the outside of the door.

It may be remarked, and it is obvious, that the controller G may actdirectly on the link F at the proper time by a proper construction ofthese parts. Modifications to this end will readily suggest themselvesto any skilled niechanic. In such case lever N would be dispensed with.

The studs h of the permuter should always be arranged in a somewhatscattering manner, so that no two or more of the studs maysimultaneously stand on the line swept over by the pin g of thecontroller.

A second form of my invention is illustrated on Sheet 3, where Fig. 7 isa rear elevation of the lock with the rear plate of the lock'caseremoved. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the lock, showing it attached tothe door of a safe.

Parts of this form of lockidentical with parts of the lock illustratedon Sheets 1 and 2 are indicated by the same letters of reference.

This lock, in general construction and operation, is quite similar tothe lock heretofore described. It ditt'ers therefrom in forming theratchet-teeth on the device for lifting the controller instead of on thecontroller, and in inodi-- fying the operation of the lifting device toadapt itto the new condition of things. The controller G now terminatesat its free end in a bit, G adapted to engage any one of a series ofratchet-teeth, p, on the lifter P. This lifter is hung at its lower endon a pin on the arm I of shaft I, which is operated by the driving-pin kof the reversible transmitter K on driver D through arm 1 controlled bytrigger 1 the same as in the first form of my invention described. Thelifter is guided by studs pp, fixed on bracket 1*, and engaging slots 1919 in the lifter. The lower ends of these slots 19 are about vertical,while their upper ends are alittle oblique, sufficiently so to force thelifter,

- on fallingto its lowermost or normal position,

'its normal or lowermost position and imparting to it the first lift.Atits highest elevation the bit of the controller is on top of thelifter, so that it can move endwise over the same.

The principal advantage of this form of the invention over the formfirst described con sists in the greater possible sweepof the controllerina given lock-case, and the consequent increased number of elements orsteps of the combination that may be utilized. This will be apparentonconsidering tha-tin the firstform of lock the controller can only sweepover about one-half of the face of the permnter, while in this modifiedform the controller may sweep over the entire face of the permuter, therespective sizes of the permuter and the lock-case being the same inboth forms of lock.

A third form of my invention is illustrated on Sheet 4, where Fig. 9 isa sectional rear elevation. Fig. 10 is a sectional plan, showing thelock attached to a safe-door. Figs. 11 to 14 are detail views ofdetached parts.

In the illustrations on this Sheet 4 parts of the lock identical withparts of the first form of lock (shown on Sheets 1 and 2) are alsoindicated by the same letters of reference.

Instead of a pawl and associated devices for moving the controllerstepwise, a cam-disk,Q, is used in this form of lock for that purpose.This cam-disk is mounted to turn loosely on the arbor B on one side ofthe driver 1), while the permuter H turns loosely on a hulrbearing ofarbor B on the other side of the driver. The permuter and cam-disk areof about equal diameter, and are respectively combined withfriction-pawls (not shown) or other appropriate devices in such mannerthat each can turn in one direction only-one to the right and the otherto the left. The pin k of the reversible transmitter K is adapted todrive the camdisk by acting on a pin, q, thereon, while the pin 7a actson a pin, h, of the peri'nuter, as heretofore.

The driver has, preferably, the three-winged form shown, one wingextending past the peripheries of the cam-disk and permnter, andterminating in a cross-bar, D.

The controller consists of two bars, R- and R, rigidly connectedtogether and pivoted to the upper inner corner of the bolt E, and actedupon by a spring, R antagonistically to any force applied to lift thecontroller.

On the face averted from the driver the cam -disk is provided with aseries of semicircular cam-grades, Q, which cover about one-half of itsface. The bar R of the controller lies close to these cam-grades, andhas a pin, 1', engaged thereby. The bar R of the controller has a pin torest on any one of the studs h of the permuter when brought into properrelative positions. I

Vhen the cam-disk is turned by the driver one of the cam-grades Q willengage pin r and lift the controller to the extent of the throw of suchcam-grade. To lift the controller higher it is necessary to stop themotion of the cam-disk at the "point where the acting cam-grade haslifted the controller as far as it is able, and to reverse the driver,so as to turn the permuter, to the end of settingone of its studs ILunder the pin 1" of the barB of the controller. That having been done,the camdisk may be turned again, when the next camgrade will pick up pin1" of the controller and give it another lift. The outermost cam-gradewill lift the controller so high that its pins 4" and 1' will be broughtin the circuit of the drivers cross bar D, which, by pushing againstsaid pins, will draw upon the controller and retract the bolt of thelock.

On reversing the motion of the driver its back edge will strike a fixedknee, E of the bolt and again shoot the same.

In order to prevent the retraction of the bolt, unless the controllerhas first beenbrought to proper position, a dog, S, is fixed on the lockcase in line with a rib, B on the bar R of the controller. At a point,8, a notch or gateway is formed in the dog, through which the rib R ofthe controller can slide endwise when brought in line therewith, whichoccurs only when the controller has been lifted to its highest point bythe outermost cam-grade ofthe cam-disk 0. 1n all other possiblepositions of the controller its rib R is opposite to the solid edge ofdog S, which thus prevents endwise inward movement of the controller andretraction of the bolt until the combination has been worked out first.

This form of lock possesses advantages over the previously-describedforms by reason of its greater simplicity of construction. Anotherimportant advantage is, that in looking no special combination requiresto be worked out, as a few turns of the arbor alternately in oppositedirections is sure to complete the lock-up.

'While it will be found most convenient to so form the driver that itcan both shoot and retract the bolt, yet that is not essential, as aseparate device may be provided to perform said functions 5 but therelations of the driver and the device for operating the bolt must besuch always that the two will constitute, practically, a single devicein every case.

I have described several forms ofmy invention, to show that the generalfeatures thereof may vary greatly so far as embodiment is concerned. Icould easily multiply modifications of this kind, but deem the foregoingsufficient for the purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the bolt,the self-replacing controller, the "permuter, and the driver adapted toalternately move the controller and the permuter, as well as to shootand retract the bolt. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I havehereunto set my hand this 28th day of April, 1879.

MILTON A, DALTON. Witnesses:

' W. T. LOGAN, It. N. BULLA.

